Premiers Najib, Hun Sen visit the Grand Palace
Foreign leaders and Thai communities around the globe have expressed their deep respect for His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who passed away peacefully at age 89 last week.
The Grand Palace yesterday welcomed Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Cambodian premier Hun Sen and Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao, who all visited the Kingdom to mourn the late King.
Two letters of condolences from King Tupou VI of Tonga were passed on to His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, according to the Thai embassy in Canberra.
The letters were handed over by Princess Angelika Latufuipeka Tuku’aho, the Tongan ambassador to Thailand, who resides in Canberra.
According to Tongan state media, the two royal families are considered “close friends” with the Thai Royal Family attending last year’s coronation of the Tongan king.
In Switzerland, where King Bhumibol spent most of his childhood, more than a thousand Thais gathered for a candle-lighting ceremony in front of the Palais de Rumine building, where he studied during his time at the University of Lausanne.
The Thais were joined by board members of Ecole Nouvelle de la Suisse Romande, the school where the King got his elementary and secondary education.
Mourning overseas
The same sentiments were shared among Thai communities across continents, from London and Moscow to Los Angeles as well as Ho Chi Minh and Phnom Penh, with people gathering to light candles and make merit in devotion to the much-loved King.
Among the foreign VIPs paying respects to the King were United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State John Kerry, and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov, who visited the Thai diplomatic corps to sign condolence books.
The books are available at Thai embassies worldwide for people to sign.
